Bingo.

  I spin to the left and I spot the glowing person that has Maia thrown over her shoulder, unconscious. They’re gliding above the ground, being carried by a small pair of flickering wings. It’s a faerie! I’ve never seen one before but I’ve heard of their luminescent glow, paper-like wings, and knowledge of the wild.

  Save her! My wolf shouts in my mind. He cares about her as much as I do. I obey his command and together we dive for the back of the female faerie, but another faerie slams into my side.

  I roll along the ground, and the male faerie looks down at me with narrowed neon green eyes. “Stay down, wolf!”

  A low growl leaves my wolf’s mouth and I call upon the shift so I can speak to the new threat. Growls and snorts won’t do any good against their kind. They have magic, where my wolf only has brute force.

  I’ll save her. Don’t worry. I calm my wolf as I pull him back into myself and my body contorts until I’m standing on my two human legs again. Before I can get a word out, the male faerie throws a shawl at me so I can cover myself.

  “Thank you,” I say, trying to show kindness in order to bargain for Maia’s freedom. I look at the female who still carries Maia like a doll over her shoulder. “Please, I need her back. I’m her protector.”

  The woman flicks her purple hair over her shoulder and looks over at her companion like he is a complete idiot. Whoever this chick is, she’s clearly the leader. “Wilk. I was not aware that she had a protector.”

  The male faerie, Wilk, nods to the woman and looks back to me. He floats back to the ground and sticks a hand out for me to shake. “We are most sorry, wolf. My sister, Evin, and I came upon this woman as she was encroaching on our land. I could see that she was not a human, but I am unsure of her exact species. I thought we should take her back to our camp for investigation.”

  Investigation? I don’t know what the faeries think Maia is, but to a wolf she seems just like a human. The cure in her blood blocks her wolf side, and the white hair makes her stand out. I can only imagine what it was like for her growing up.

  I nod to Wilk. “Her father is human, but her mother was a wolf shifter. I can see the confusion, but she wasn’t trying to intrude. She likely doesn’t even know your kind exists. I was just returning her back to her home which is a long journey from here.”

  His eyebrows raise and his pale skin seems to glow brighter as he looks back at his sister. “That is so cool,” he says, suddenly sounding like a human teenager and less proper than before. The female, Evin, glares at her clearly younger brother and he straightens up again. “I am sorry. Please come back to our camp and let my family feed you a proper meal before sending you on your journey.”

  I hesitate, but Maia’s limp body makes my choice for me. I don’t want to make enemies while I don’t have Maia in my arms. I need to get her back. I nod to both faeries, and Wilk smiles brightly.

  “Great!” He shouts and a dozen more faeries appear from behind trees and from the air. They had me surrounded, and thank all that is holy that I didn’t try to attack.

  Chapter 10

  ⟣⟡⟢

  Maia

  My eyes feel heavy as I force them open. I’m staring at the ground as I’m being carried by… a glowing body? I must be dreaming, because the green leather-bound legs in front of my face are glowing and floating above the ground. Definitely dreaming.

  I turn my head to the right and see a half-naked Seth walking quietly beside me. His eyes meet mine and I can see him visibly sigh, but a finger comes to his lips, warning me to stay quiet. Fear fills me, and I close my eyes again. I’m actually floating in someone’s arms, and they are definitely glowing.

  “Would you mind if I carry her, ma’am? I am her protector and more than happy to help you lighten your load.” Seth’s voice is calm and collected as he speaks to whoever has me.

  A boy’s voice comes from somewhere ahead of us. “I will watch him, Evin. We are nearly home anyways.”

  The boy’s words must’ve convinced the Evin person, because she lifts me easily off her shoulder and lays me in Seth’s arms. Warmth covers me as Seth holds me close to his bare chest, and I try not to audibly sigh.

  I draw his scent into my nose and have to hold myself back from licking his skin where my face rests. Why does he have to be shirtless?

  “We are here,” someone calls, a man’s voice that I haven’t heard yet.

  I peek one eye open to see multiple beautiful, glowing people floating in two lines, creating an aisle that another one of them walks between. They all have small dragonfly-like wings on their backs and skin-tight bodysuits that cover their bodies like armor. The woman in the middle has long purple hair and pointed ears that stick out through her glowing locks. What are these people?

  Unlike the three bruxsa chicks and one vampire that I’ve met so far, these supernatural creatures are almost elegant. If I had to guess, I’d say they’re real life faeries. Freakin’ insane!

  Seth carries me between the aisle of faeries, behind the purple haired woman. I watch secretly as she steps through what looks like an invisible jello wall and then she disappears mid-air. What the frickin' frack is happening?

  I can feel my heart rate pick up, but I try to stay still. Seth hasn’t told me to move yet, and I don’t want to do anything to get either of us hurt. Seth rubs one of his hands along my back as if soothing me before he, too, steps through the jello wall, and we are suddenly standing beside a small stone city in the middle of the woods.

  It looks like one of those ancient cities that is left standing after three thousand years, and I want to explore every last crevice of the magnificent place. It’s literally a magic, invisible lost city, and I’m brought back to the story of Atlantis. Never again will I see fairytales as just that again.

  Seth stops walking and I close my eyes again as I hear the same boy’s voice from before. “You may go into there until she wakes. There are clothes for you to change into and a large bed for the two of you to rest if you need. My guards will be just out here when you are ready to meet us for dinner.”

  “Thank you for your hospitality,” Seth says calmly. He lifts me higher in his arms, and behind my eyelids, I can see us entering a darker area, followed by the sound of a stone door shutting.

  I’m laid down on a soft bed and warm fingers brush my hair from my face. “Snow, you can open your eyes now. We’re alone.”

  Heat fills my belly at his words so close to me and when I open my eyes, Seth is leaning over me, his lips only inches from mine. His brown eyes roam over my face and then land on my lips before flicking back up to meet my gaze.

  “We’re alone?” I ask breathlessly and Seth’s eyes darken, but not to black like they do when he shifts.

  He nods. “Completely.” His body shifts on the bed beside mine, and I can feel more warmth against my side, and his bare abdomen against the skin exposed from where my shirt rides up. “How are you feeling, Snow?”

  I swallow hard and then lick my dry lips. “Good. Really good, actually.” I know he’s asking about how I’m feeling after being knocked out by a dust cloud, but I can only think about how good I feel being so close to him.

  His face is lit by a small lantern that hangs on a nearby wall. I look away from him to check out our room. The place is decorated beautifully with a large carved waterfall shower on one side and antique furniture along the stone walls. The feeling is very intimate. And with him wearing only a shawl of some sort around his waist, the setting is almost too much for my virgin brain to handle.

  I look back at Seth and he’s still watching me, a small smile tugging at his lips. “The faeries know how to live,” he says.

  My eyes go wide, even though I already suspected what they are. “So, we’re in some kind of faerie encampment? Are faeries a kind of shifter?”

  Seth sits up and pulls me to sit beside him, and even though I really liked our horizontal position, I can admire his shirtless body much better from this spot. “This place is more like a city than an encampment. They can move their entire city as they travel.” That’s something I’d like to see in person.

  He continues, “And they are more like witches, if that makes sense. They have magic similar to witches, but they also have wings that they can retract, and they wear their magic on them, making them glow with power. Because of that, they have a hard time blending into human society.”

  Super flippin’ cool.

  “Are they dangerous? Clearly they had a problem with me or they wouldn’t have knocked me out. Should we be running?” If the faeries aren’t friendly, I don’t want to sit and chat in their home.

  He shrugs. “They’re a suspicious group. I don’t think they meant to harm you in any way, unless they found you to be a threat. But their city and people stay safe and powerful because they are cautious of outsiders. It’s honestly smart of them. I don’t see a reason to run just yet. It could just make matters worse, and we don’t need faerie enemies.”

  The thought of an army of magical flying beings hunting us down makes goosebumps rise along my skin. Yeah, no thanks.

  My eyes flick to the waterfall shower with no shower curtain and then back to Seth. “They uh… don’t have any issues with privacy around here, huh?”

  He follows my gaze to the shower. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure they thought we were something more than what we are.” He looks back to me with a nervous bite of his lower lip.

  Something more than what we are? Am I wrong in thinking that we are something more?

  “Right,” I say. “They couldn’t have been more wrong.” I try to smile, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t quite hit the mark.

  I stand from the bed and look away from the gorgeous hunk of man that doesn’t see me the way I see him. A wooden dresser sits beside the bed and I rifle through it, digging out a large pair of men’s exercise pants and a blue plain t-shirt. I turn and toss the clothes at Seth where he stands watching me. His eyes look sad, but I don’t ask. I just need him to get dressed before I make a fool of myself.

  “There, I’ll go out so you can get dressed. You know, you should really be carrying a backpack with a change of clothes everywhere you go.”

  I try to step around him, but he grabs onto my arm. “Snow, you should stay here with me. I don’t want to lose you again.” His eyes meet mine before he adds, “Please.”

  What happened to the demanding jerk from the past two days? It’s crazy, but it would be so much easier to not want to kiss him if he’d stay a jerk. My heart flutters as his hand slides up my arm and rests on my shoulder.

  I nod and turn back toward the dresser. “Okay. I’m just going to stare very hard at this dresser then. Go ahead and cover yourself, wolf boy.”

  I can hear his soft chuckle and the rustling of clothing. He doesn’t step further away from me as he dresses and I find it extremely difficult to not glance over my shoulder. I’ve never even seen a naked man before, nor have I cared to. How am I suddenly this sex-crazed person in a matter of days? It has to be a wolf thing, right?

  It’s quiet for a moment and I clear my throat. “You done yet or are you primping for prom?” Oh, man, I’m hilarious.

  All of my teasing falls away as Seth’s hard body steps up to stand against my back. As far as I can tell, he’s fully clothed, but it doesn’t stop my heart from leaping out of my chest at his warmth and nearness. One of his large hands comes up to rest on my waist and I can feel his breath in my ear as his other hand pulls my hair off of my neck and slides it over my opposite shoulder.

  “You’re not at all what I expected, Maia.” He says my name like a caress and I swear his words actually touch the skin of my exposed neck.

  The hand on my waist slides across my belly, and even though he isn’t pressing, I push my back against him. I hold back the shudder that wants to roll through me when I feel Seth’s stubbly cheek graze my neck. If I just turn around, I can press my lips to his. Would he pull away?

  “Seth,” his name leaves my lips in a whisper. I guess my full voice has dropped to my stomach with my heart.

  I start to turn toward him, needing to be brave and let him know what I want, but the knock on the door makes me jump away from Seth’s body. So much for being brave, Mai.

  Seth’s hands fall to his sides and he doesn’t look at me before running to the door and pulling it open. “Yes?” he asks the short, pink-haired faerie girl. Her eyes match her hair and it’s absolutely adorable, especially with her long hot pink slip dress. She looks young, and has to be no older than my age.

  She looks from Seth to me and nods, her small wings twitching. “Dinner is ready, and the king asks that you both attend.” She looks back at me again. “Would you like me to confirm your attendance?” So formal.

  Seth looks at me, and I nod. He smiles down at the beautiful young woman. “We will be there.”

  She smiles back, showing bright white teeth and deep dimples. “Great. I can lead the way, if you would like.”

  “Is what we’re wearing appropriate for a dinner with a faerie king?” I look down at my black tank top, leather jacket, and black leggings. Very punk chic, but not formal dinner wear.

  The cute faerie girl looks me up and down and then does the same with Seth. “I can fix that if you wish.”

  Seth nods to her, and she waves her glowing hand in a small circle. Her glow stretches from her fingertips to wrap around Seth and his outfit shifts from the t-shirt and pants to a forest green blazer over a white buttoned shirt and matching forest green slacks. His feet remain bare, and I realize the faerie doesn’t wear shoes either. Not like she needs to, since she can float everywhere.

  Seth looks drop dead sexy in his suit, and I have to hold my mouth closed so I don’t drool in front of him. I look toward the girl again and she holds her hand out to me, the glow from her fingers stretching to meet me. I guess it’s my turn.

  The air around me tingles and soft fabric rubs against my skin as my clothes change. My long, black leather sleeves become tight, forest green, see-through ones, and my neckline plunges, somehow making my bra unnecessary as the tight green bodice fits firmly against my chest. I gasp as the dress magically lengthens to my feet, and my shoes disappear completely.

  The dress matches Seth’s suit perfectly and fits me like a second skin. It’s also incredibly comfortable, like I could sleep in it and it wouldn’t shift and bunch all through the night. Faerie magic is officially the best thing ever.

  I giggle and twirl in my new digs, and I look back at the girl who is grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you, miss. Your magic is incredible.”

  She beams at me and bows her head. “You are very welcome, and please call me Qadira. Shall we be going?”

  I look up at Seth and his eyes are traveling the length of my body, making him look like a true hungry wolf. When his gaze finds mine, he blinks quickly and clears his throat, looking back at Qadira.

  “Yes, thank you, Qadira. Lead the way.” I guess it’s time for dinner with the faerie king.

  Chapter 11

  ⟣⟡⟢

  Seth

  I can’t believe I almost kissed her. My body wanted Maia in a way that I have never felt before. It was like an instinct to touch her and smell her hair, her neck. She pressed her back against me and I nearly lost all control. Human women, and even shifter women for that matter, have never held my interests so much.

  Though I’ve shared a few kisses and touches with a few females from my pack, I didn’t crave them like I do Maia. I never felt the need to do more than just enjoy their company and then move on and focus on my alpha training. I can’t even focus on taking a deep breath when Maia is looking at me.

  And holy hell, how did that faerie girl, Qadira know exactly what to dress Maia in to drive me totally mad? I can’t have her, though, can I? Even though I feel like my soul wants her as much as I do, she isn’t my fated mate, and her blood is toxic to my kind.

  Fate must have a hell of a sense of humor to put me in the position to be her protector and never get to make her mine. I can’t keep letting my body control my actions. From now on, I need to keep my head straight, and keep Maia at arms length. Or maybe multiple arms lengths, just to be safe.

  ♢♢♢

  Maia

  Walking through the faerie city has me spinning in circles just to take in all of the beauty. The tall buildings weave into nature like they grew together that way. Trees wrap around the stone walls, with flowers and vines giving them vibrant colors. It's a faerie paradise.

  Faeries of various colors, shapes, and sizes pop in and out of the buildings. Some smile and wave, while others just stare. They clearly don’t get guests often. Seth walks behind me and I follow Qadira into what looks like a large stone pavilion. There is a long wooden dining table in the center, and hanging twinkling lights cover the ceiling.

  “It’s beautiful,” I say quietly, admiring the romantic setting.

  Qadira nods. “Fae is a wonderful home for all of us.” She looks over at a young man who is approaching us. He’s maybe nineteen or twenty, and his neon green eyes are on Qadira. She blushes under his gaze and then bows her head to him. “Prince Wilk. Good evening.”

  “Good evening, Qadira. You look beautiful tonight.” He continues to stare at the girl and I feel the need to give them some privacy, until he finally turns to me and Seth.

  He smiles at me and bows his head in my direction, his shoulder-length light green hair falling in his face. “I am glad to see you awake, ma’am. My name is Wilk Arnou, prince of Fae. Thank you for joining us.”

  He’s incredibly handsome with delicate features. For a man, he’s actually quite pretty, with his neon green eyes and plump pink lips. Clearly he has Qadira’s attention as she stares appreciatively at him. Seth steps beside me and dips his head back to Wilk.

  I reach my hand out, not sure what the proper protocol is for meeting a faerie prince. “Thanks. I’m Maia Collins. It’s nice to meet you, uh… your highness?”